47 replies to this topic

[Penguinnut]

Here is the Bolens Penguin Brochure I mentioned. Sorry about the poor scan quality. Re-reading the email from the designer of this machine, he states "we built 50 for a trial run" "five were prepared for presentation to the Bolens distributer reps, Bolens management, and Bolens owners-at that time AMF" "three splashed into a large motel swimming pool and within five minutes caught fire. End of project." Kevin

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[wilberj]

Here is the Bolens Penguin Brochure I mentioned. Sorry about the poor scan quality. Re-reading the email from the designer of this machine, he states "we built 50 for a trial run" "five were prepared for presentation to the Bolens distributer reps, Bolens management, and Bolens owners-at that time AMF" "three splashed into a large motel swimming pool and within five minutes caught fire. End of project." Kevin

 

Welcome to GTtalk!

 

Are you the guy who owns two up in Canada?   Finally some paperwork that show facts instead of hearsay!   If you could we love to see better scans.    Could I ask you to PM the designer name to me I have a list of people from bolens that worked there and I like to see if he is on the list.    Also AMF never owned bolens do you mean FMC?

Edited by wilberj, December 20, 2016 - 09:25 PM.

[Paulgo]

Good article with some history.

http://http-server.c...08/ecl208a.html

[29 Chev]

Converted to pdf - not sure if it makes it easier to read.

Attached Files

•  Penguin Brochure.pdf   778.64KB   102 downloads

[fonz3482]

This is some cool stuff! I worked for FMC and they sold off our division to investors last year. I tried several times digging up info on Bolens products from fellow employees and corporate people. Unfortunately FMC didn't believe in preserving any info on past businesses. Once they sold a portion of the business they trashed everything and moved on. That's what all the old timers I spoke with said, and the corporate people are all too new to even know what Bolens is. It's a shame!

[Penguinnut]

Welcome to GTtalk!

 

Are you the guy who owns two up in Canada?   Finally some paperwork that show facts instead of hearsay!   If you could we lover to see better scans.    Could I ask you to PM the designer name to me I have a list of people from bolens that worked there and I like to see if he is on the list.    Also AMF never owed bolens do you mean FMC?

I don't own any Bolens Penguins, I have several Pengor Penguins. The name I have is "John Smeaton", he in the article that Paulgo posted the link for. The email I have does mention "AMF" several times, but he was 80+ years old when he typed it. 

[glgrumpy]

Wow, that story of the Nortrac was real neat! SO, did they ever make it go?  Back in 70's everyone made a snowmobile, and later got out of them and left the few remaining to continue on.  I'm sure JLO engines weren't that popular or 2-strokes now days are all gone. Took awhile to read all those pages, now need to take a nap, ha! Never understood where you guys get all the info, must just know where to look or something?  Thanks for the good reading.

[darkexphos]

I have seen several of these here in Wisconsin. I am very tempted to buy the one in Eden as it's not too far from me but I have too many projects already.

[jeffanderson]

About the Bolens Penguin,
I live just south of Eden WI. Apparently they made 29 0f these. I am a very addicted collector of gas pumps, signs, and vintage cars. Tonight 1/7/16 I picked a picker, to buy a few pumps. This was just north of eden near where the craigslist ad was from. Much to my surprise I found 4 of these Penguins from 69. They need some restoration but I purchased one. From what I was told they all where laying on the drivers side so the drivers side frame rail is rotted on all of them. It is just a rectangular steel piece so should not be that hard to weld a new one in. I was curious if anyone could guess any type of value on these?
Jeff Anderson

[wilberj]

About the Bolens Penguin,
I live just south of Eden WI. Apparently they made 29 0f these. I am a very addicted collector of gas pumps, signs, and vintage cars. Tonight 1/7/16 I picked a picker, to buy a few pumps. This was just north of eden near where the craigslist ad was from. Much to my surprise I found 4 of these Penguins from 69. They need some restoration but I purchased one. From what I was told they all where laying on the drivers side so the drivers side frame rail is rotted on all of them. It is just a rectangular steel piece so should not be that hard to weld a new one in. I was curious if anyone could guess any type of value on these?
Jeff Anderson

 

 

Hi welcome to Gttalk could you post some photos of what you have?

[Gtractor]

  

 

If you just bought one I'd say you have a much better idea of value than anyone here. 

They very seldom turn up for sale. 

[jeffanderson]

I NOW HAVE THREE, ONE FOR SALE

[MH81]

You will want to put that info in the Classifieds section.
Also, do you have pictures?

[Pengor]

Those tires are for beavers not penguins

[1967bolens collector]

Can It go in water?